A steel campaigner reckons, if NSW government MPs have a problem mandating procurement, they should go to parliament’s canteen.
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Ian Waters, one of the proponents of the petition that took the debate on steel to the floor of the NSW Parliament, has had cause to be in that building a number of times in the last 12 months.
While at state parliament, he’d noticed it’s a requirement the canteen and restaurant serve only food and drink from NSW.
“From what I’ve seen it’s a double-edged thing,” Mr Waters said.
“They want fresh, good food so they’re looking for local stuff not some Vietnamese catfish being brought in.
“Also it’s important – the philosophy of supporting our farmers and our fruit growers and our fishermen.
“My view is, if it’s important that our politicians have healthy food and it’s important to support those industries, the same applies to your steel purchases.
“You want safe good-quality steel for your projects but also the social and economic benefits of buying steel from within the country.
“There’s obviously massive benefits there that I think we all recognise.”
While Mr Waters said steel procurement involved a lot more money than buying food for a canteen and restaurant, he felt the underlying principle was the same.
“If the principle’s there for one thing, why wouldn’t you consider it for the other?,” he asked.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward dismissed any link between the canteen policy and that of steel.
“Do you honestly think that’s a comparison?” Mr Ward asked.
“The parliament has made that decision, to support Australian products and I support support using Australian producers and businesses where we can.
“But not at any cost.”
Mr Ward also said the state should “think about the implications and impact that will happen when other countries we’re exporting to start doing this with their industries”.